Left to Right: Nguyễn Thanh Thủy. Photo courtesy of the artist. Sandeep Bhagwati. Photo by Alain Lefort. Hand to Earth Trio: Daniel Wilfred, Peter Knight, and Sunny Kim. Photos by Sarah Walker. Bottom Right: Jeremy Dutcher and Haruka Fujii, photos courtesy of the artists.
Experience the visionary work of German composer Sandeep Bhagwati, who brings diverse musical influences together in elegant harmony. And be captivated by Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, a renowned đàn tranh player reimagining Vietnamese traditional music through a modern lens.  
Anchoring the concert is a performance from Australia-based contemporary music ensemble Hand to Earth—a groundbreaking collaboration between Daniel Wilfred, a Yolŋu songman preserving ancient storytelling traditions from northeast Arnhem Land; Sunny Kim, a Korean vocalist drawing influences from experimental jazz; and Peter Knight, an innovative trumpeter, composer, and producer blending acoustic and electronic textures. 

The evening also includes special appearances by Jeremy Dutcher, Two-Spirit classically trained tenor and two-time Polaris Prize winner, and Haruka Fujii, a dynamic percussionist known for her precision and artistry.

These artists invite you to explore music that transcends borders and time.

Enter the wholly unique world of Jeremy Dutcher—a Two-Spirit song carrier, classically trained tenor, and Wolastoqiyik member of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in eastern Canada—live at Banff Centre.

Dutcher’s acclaimed debut Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa unearthed century-old archival recordings of his ancestors and turned them into collaborative, piano-based compositions. Sung entirely in Wolastoqey, his endangered mother tongue, it went on to win the 2018 Polaris Music Prize, and led to collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and Leslie Feist.

His sophomore album Motewolonuwok ᒣᑌᐧᐁᓓᓄᐧᐁᒃ , which features several English-language originals, was awarded the 2024 Polaris Music Prize, making Jeremy the first double winner.

Unapologetically playful in its incorporation of classical and jazz influences, full of reverence for Wolastoqiyik tradition, and teeming with the urgency of modern-day resistance, Dutcher’s music is like nothing else.

“A moment-defining record.” — CBC Music
“A lustrous work of high drama.” — The Globe and Mail
“There is no one making music like this." — NPR Music

Our Soundweavings residency offers musicians and ensembles from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds the time and space to focus on their craft. Embracing music from across the world, the program encourages connections between artists working in different traditions.

Explore the program’s global music soundscapes with this intimate concert, which happens toward the end of the participants’ two weeks at Banff. During that time, each musician will have taken risks, collaborated with their peers, refined their artistic process, and been exposed to a bevy of diverse approaches to music-making.

Experience the fresh perspectives of these talented artists as they bring collaborative works and unique compositions to life. 

Join James Anagnoson and Micah Yui for an evening of music for two pianos, featuring works by Brahms, Dvořák, Debussy, and Gershwin.

James Anagnoson is one of Canada’s most celebrated pianists and the Dean of The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School. As half of the internationally acclaimed duo Anagnoson & Kinton, he has performed over 1,500 concerts worldwide, earning praise from The New York Times for their “formidable precision and panache.” He has also taught and mentored generations of prize-winning pianists, shaping Canada’s classical music landscape for decades.

Yui, meanwhile, is an acclaimed Canadian pianist, whose playing contains "blazing enthusiasm, power, and technical assurance” (Los Angeles Times). She’s played solo recitals around the world, including at venues in Zurich, Tokyo, New York, Toronto, and Copenhagen. She’s also given radio performances on CBC, NHK, and WQXR, plus orchestral performances with the Syracuse, Edmonton, Victoria, Montreal Metropolitan, Asheville, and Baltimore Chamber orchestras.

Both are part of the faculty for Art of Piano, a program that pushes the instrument to new heights in skill, expression, and composition.

Leela Gilday is a musical force—an acclaimed Dene singer-songwriter, her powerful voice and deeply personal songs resonate with audiences across Canada and beyond. Hailing from the Northwest Territories, she draws inspiration from the land and her people, crafting music that is both profoundly moving and deeply relatable.  

With soaring vocals, rich melodies, and a commanding stage presence, Gilday invites listeners on a journey of resilience, identity, and connection. Her performances are raw, uplifting, and transformative, blending folk, roots, and Indigenous musical traditions into a stirring and contemporary sound.

A Juno Award-winning artist with a reputation for authenticity and storytelling, Leela Gilday’s concerts are more than just performances—they're experiences filled with spirit, strength, and deep emotion. Don’t miss the chance to witness one of Canada’s most powerful voices live on stage.

Be inspired by the next generation of musicians as our Art of Piano participants present a series of intimate but energetic performances.  

The two-week Art of Piano residency invites advanced pianists to study with world-class faculty, engage with their peers, and practice in the inspiring setting of Banff Centre, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
Participants explore the connection between artistic vision and craft, hone the ability to listen, and delve into masterworks from diverse eras and genres.  

This two-and-a-half-hour performance consists of five 30-minute mini-recitals. It marks the culmination of the participants’ time here. 

Be inspired by the next generation of musicians as our Art of Piano participants present a series of intimate but energetic performances.  

The two-week Art of Piano residency invites advanced pianists to study with world-class faculty, engage with their peers, and practice in the inspiring setting of Banff Centre, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
Participants explore the connection between artistic vision and craft, hone the ability to listen, and delve into masterworks from diverse eras and genres.  

This two-and-a-half-hour performance consists of five 30-minute mini-recitals. It marks the culmination of the participants’ time here. 

Discover the world of chamber music, where a small number of instruments can make a massive impact.  

At the intimate Rolston Recital Hall, pianist Éric Le Sage, flutist Magali Mosnier, clarinetist Paul Meyer, and cellist Sung-Won Yang will showcase their technical brilliance as the sun sets over the Rocky Mountains.  

Each performer is on the faculty of Interplay, an innovative residency program that celebrates the convergence of opera and chamber music, bringing together composers, musicians, singers, stage managers, and more.
Chamber music is a form of classical music composed for a modest group of instruments—traditionally, a group that could fit in a palace chamber. More broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by few performers, with one performer to a part.  

From delicate melodies to passionate themes, experience the rich palette of musical textures that define the genre. 

One of the masterpieces of Baroque sacred music, Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew Passion uses a gorgeous weave of arias and chorales to recount Jesus’s final days.

Join us for excerpts from the oratorio performed by the participants and faculty of the Interplay program, which celebrates the convergence of opera and chamber music, bringing together composers, musicians, singers, and more.

Written in 1727 with a libretto by Picander, the St. Matthew Passion is one of only two Bach Passions to have survived in its entirety. Described by Felix Mendelssohn as “the greatest of all Christian works,” it's both historically significant and deeply moving.

Embark on a journey to the modern edge of chamber music. Witness the premiere of dynamic new compositions at this concert featuring percussionist Aiyun Huang and clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester.
You’ll also hear the groundbreaking work of participants from Interplay—an innovative residency program that celebrates the convergence of opera and chamber music, bringing together composers, musicians, singers, stage managers, and more.

Chamber music is a form of classical music composed for a modest group of instruments—traditionally, a group that could fit in a palace chamber. More broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by few performers, with one performer to a part.

At this intimate evening, tradition will mix with an avant-garde spirit, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in chamber music.

The music of Canadian-American composer Karim Al-Zand draws from a wide pool of influences, including graphic art, myths, folk music, film, spoken word, jazz, and his own Middle Eastern heritage. In a protean catalogue of solo, chamber, vocal and orchestral compositions, his work embraces a variety of interests, issues, and approaches.

Enjoy selections from his catalogue performed by the participants and faculty of the Interplay program, which celebrates the convergence of opera and chamber music, bringing together composers, musicians, singers, and more.

During these dynamic evenings, jazz blends with contemporary art to create an immersive experience.

Nick Dunston (double bass), Anna Webber (saxophone), Kalia Vandever (trombone), Simon Barker (drums), Lester St Louis (cello), Francois Houle (clarinet) and George Burton (piano) will improvise without fear, redefining jazz traditions through daring explorations of sound.

Our three-week Jazz & Sonic Arts residency is an innovative development opportunity for early and mid-career jazz and sound artists. It encourages participants to explore new directions in their artistic practice, become changemakers, and advance their creative potential as performers, collaborators, and creators.

Experience the bold work of our Jazz and Sonic Arts participants as they innovate with sound, using improvisation and experimentation to bring us on a shared musical journey.

Jazz & Sonic Arts is made possible through the generous support of the Yolande Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund.

Join two-time JUNO Award-winning Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee (Ace-in-abbey) on the western Canadian run of his first-ever headlining tour, The Way We’re Born Tour. Following two incredible Canadian support tours with Allison Russell and Dan Mangan, this spring’s Eastern Canadian tour, as well as countless global festival appearances, it is now time for Aysanabee to take center stage and share his powerful music—including the radio hit singles "Nomads," “We Were Here,” "Somebody Else," and his newest radio charting single “Edge Of The Earth”—along with his engaging storytelling.

The alternative indie artist, of Sucker Clan from the Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, now calls Toronto home. He began making music under his mother’s maiden name when moments of stillness allowed him to slow down and create music that truly represented him as an artist. He’s been compared to Hozier and Kings of Leon, among others.
In March 2024, Aysanabee made history as the first Indigenous artist to win the JUNO Awards for Alternative Album of the Year and the coveted Songwriter of the Year for his EP Here and Now. His debut album, Watin (Nov 2022), named after his grandfather, combined music and journalism with artistry and expression and was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.

Since 2021, he has performed over 300 shows across Canada and globally, including tours abroad with Kim Churchill (AUS) and Skye Wallace (IT), and international festivals Reeperbahn (DE), The Great Escape (UK), SXSW Sydney (AUS), Tallinn Music Week (ES), and AmericanaFestUK (GB).